Millefiori is a type of mosaic glass, characterised by its floral patterns. The name itself means ‘a thousand flowers’ in Italian. The technique involved arranging bundles of thin glass rods, of various colours, fusing them together and then drawing them out. They were then cut into cross-sectional fragments and slices to be used as inlays or for larger pieces. Millefiori bowls, for example, would involve large amounts of the sectioned fragments to be applied to an already-blown, hot bowl. The bowl would be heated again, allowing the fragments to fuse seamlessly together and creating a beautiful floral pattern. The millefiori technique was created by Egyptian craftsmen in the 2nd century BC, during the Hellenistic period and used well into the Roman period.
Selection of Romano-Egyptian Millefiori Glass Fragments
Price range: £ 150.00 through £ 175.00
A selection of very fine Romano-Egyptian glass fragments, displaying a variety of colours and patterns, created in the millefiori technique. Each piece was part of a larger design displayed on either a vessel or tile.
Provenance: Gallery Mikazuki prior 1984, property of a London gentleman
Condition: Fine fragments with some weathering on the jagged edges. The surface is covered with pitting and some sediment. Fragment A has been slightly repaired.
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | cm |
| Region | North Africa, Southern Europe |
| Glass | Drawn & Tooled Glass |
| Choice of Item | A, B, C, D |
Reference: For a similar item to A, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, item 2016.9.11.1, for a similar item to B, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, item 91.1.1966, for a similar item to C, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, item 17.194.396.81, and for a similar item to D, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, item 91.1.1834.
